By Scott Bailey
Singapore owner Eric Koh will have some nervous nights between now and Saturday. But he will put on his best suit and be proud that his name is the sole owner next to the recent Group 2 Reisling Stakes winner ‘Chayan’. That result that has now secured her place and early favouritism in the world’s richest race for juveniles, the Golden Slipper this weekend.
For Koh, a well-known Singapore racing identity and former steward, the win carried added meaning. Since the closure of the Singapore Turf Club in 2024, many local racing figures have looked overseas to continue their involvement in the sport or gotten out of the game completely. Koh has been among the most active, building a small but ambitious international stable across Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
His decision to expand his racing interests abroad has already produced results in Queensland recently, but March 7th marked a landmark moment for his stable. Koh celebrated two Group race victories on opposite sides of the Tasman.
The first success came in New Zealand where Sweynesday captured the Group 3 King’s Plate at Ellerslie. Not long after, his full focus shifted to Sydney where Chayan delivered an even bigger result in the prestigious Group 2 Reisling Stakes over 1,200 metres at Randwick in very impressive style.
She was ridden by champion jockey James McDonald and trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, the daughter of I Am Invincible finished strongly and won with authority to take the A$300,000 feature, stamping herself as one of the leading fillies of slipper contention.
The victory carries enormous implications, as the Reisling Stakes serves as a key lead-up to the Golden Slipper, the A$5 million showpiece widely regarded as the best and richest two-year-old race in the world. Chayan’s performance has earned her a coveted start in the race at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday, giving Koh the chance to chase one of the sport’s most prestigious prizes.
But winning jockey James McDonald will not be aboard her in the Australian major, she is to be ridden by champion jockey Craig Williams who is no stranger to winning these big races. At the barrier draw on Tuesday morning (17th March) the blue racing silks will jump from gate 12 (10) after scratchings. A draw not too bad considering many of the fancied runners such as Warwoven have drawn out wider.
Chayan was purchased by Koh for A$250,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly had already shown promise early in her career, finishing runner-up on debut in the Blue Diamond Prelude before competing in the Blue Diamond Stakes itself.
Koh’s international racing venture has quickly gathered momentum. Since shifting his focus overseas, he has assembled a team of horses competing across multiple jurisdictions, including Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. The results have followed, with several winners already recorded across the region.
For Singapore racing followers, Koh’s success provides a reminder that local ownership can still make an impact on the global stage even after the end of domestic racing in his home country. And if Chayan can produce another standout performance this Saturday then the former Singapore steward may have a shiny slipper to add to the trophy cabinet.
